Production

• 1). Create a script based off of the movie you want to create. Not only will you want to come up with a compelling and interesting story, but you will have to keep in mind your budget, locations, and any special effects that may be needed.
  
  
• 2). Cast your movie. Most likely you will not have enough money to hire professional actors, so stick to family and friends to help fill the roles. Do a couple of screen tests to see how people fit into each role.
  
  
• 3). Plan out locations for the shoot. Use the script as a reference and write down a lot of notes to help keep track of locations. During this stage you can also start planning different shots or angles you may want to shoot.
  
  
• 4). Get your equipment ready. HD cameras are relatively cheap these days and they will provide the best quality. Consider purchasing extra batteries for long days on set. An extension cord will also help out for using direct power on internal shots.
  
  
• 5). Use boom, shotgun, or wireless microphones to capture audio during a scene. Using the camera's default microphone will pick up surrounding audio and possibly wind so using an external audio is essential for taping scenes.
  
  
• 6). Use a lighting kit to create naturalistic looking lighting in a scene. A lighting kit is especially needed for indoor shots that may look flat if they are taped without extra lighting. Two lights on the side, a fill light, and some reflectors should do fine for a low budget movie.
  
  
• 7). Rehearse each scene before you actually perform it. Direct the actors through each scene and work out how the characters should act, react, and move around the scene.
  
  
• 8). Tape the scenes. Take your time and do scenes over if necessary. Give the actors breaks if they request them and keep communications open between all crew members for a friendly atmosphere.
  
  
• 9). Shoot the movie in the easiest order possible. Everything is put together in editing, so just keep tracks of the shots you took to make it easier for editing. Tape as many extra scenes as possible so there is enough to edit when the time comes.
  
  

Post-Production

• 1). Edit the movie together. Keep all of your video files organized in folders and labeled so that the editing process is easier. For a full-length movie you should use a professional editing program like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro. These video editing programs feature multi-layer editing techniques so you can sync together audio, video, and titles to make one complete sequence.
  
  
• 2). Use a special effects software program like Adobe After Effects to insert any special effects into your movie. These programs help you render effects right into the scene and you can change elements to add style as needed.
  
  
• 3). Distribute your movie. Use online services like Youtube.com to feed a trailer or scenes of the movie for promotion.
  
  
• 4). Burn your movies to DVD. DVDs are the best ways to distribute your movie and some programs allow you to make menus and covers all in one.
  
  
• 5). Submit your film to festivals and contests. This can help you earn your budget back and get potential fame from the film you have created.